Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

EVENTS

Creationist School Shuts Down

Remember that appalling test from a Christian school that circulated a few months ago that was a bunch of young earth creationist nonsense? The school was the Blue Ridge Christian Academy in South Carolina. And it has now shut down due to lack of funding. Hemant has the story.

The media attention resulting from that “outing” seemed to do wonders for them. Answers in Genesis’ Ken Ham encouraged his followers to donate money to the school, and they received donations “ranging in amounts from $1 – $1000.”
Administrator Diana Baker later said:

“It is unmistakable that our culture greatly needs well-equipped warriors for Christ. Even though the attack on the school was meant to be harmful, God has used it to provide affirmation regarding the importance of our work. We are hopeful that the recent unexpected interest in our school and in Christian Education will provide support for a future for BRCA.“

Turns out God isn’t a big fan of their school. While they ended up raising about $15,000, it was a long way from the $200,000 or so that they needed to keep the place open.

But I thought God would provide? I bet there were lots and lots of people praying for the money to keep the school open. Did they not work? Did God ignore those prayers? Were there not enough of them to get his attention? Or does he just not exist?

It doesn’t seem possible. The rule is, fundies can sink to any depth whatsoever. There is no bottom.

1. Generally these schools are cheap to operate. The teachers aren’t paid well, aren’t required to have any training, are part timers to get around various employment laws, and don’t have retirement plans except free 401(k)’s. if they are lucky.

2. Since teaching is a minor expense and educating children is unimportant, they can be very profitable. It’s just business.

3. Not teaching the kids is supposed to be a feature, not a bug. Fundie-ism thrives in ignorance and darkness, a fact that they are well aware of.

There are lots of fundie xian ignorance factories dotting the landscape everywhere. Most of them are pretty small. One I saw in my area had a graduating class of…two. It seemed to be basically the church basement of a small fundie church.

It’s one of the basic rules of fundie-ism. They set their kids up to fail. Then they fail.

While this is a victory for reason and education in theory, it will not likely change any outcomes. The same anti-science theocrats who sent kids to this poor excuse for a school will find another way to mislead and brainwash their offspring.

As mentioned above, homeschooling is a popular fundie excuse for mis-education. Many states require only a minimal adherence to sanctioned programs leaving the parents a wide berth to fill the kid’s heads with crap.

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

In the end, the message might be that even most fundamentalist Christians, all but the most extreme, want their kids to get into college. The news attention to this school could have been quite detrimental to that goal.